F7V- 



V^bl 



SHARON, 

MASSACHUSETTS, 



HEALTHIEST TOWN 



IN 



NEW ENGLAND. 



( i)T'YHn;ii 



f.V 

sj' 

W. B. WrCKES 



SUA IK IN : 
OFFICK OF THE SHABON ADVOCATE. 

1S91. 



SHARON, 

MASSACHUSETTS, 

THE 

HEALTHIEST TOWN 
NEW ENGLAND. 



COPYRIGHTED 1891, 

7 

W. B. WICKES 



8HARON : 

PRINTED AT THE OFFICK OF THE HHARON ADVOCATE. 

]S91. 



\ 



INTRODUCTION. 

This little book is published to make 
Sharon, Massachusetts, better known and 
appreciated, a purpose to which I have 
devoted the last twenty years. It is is- 
sued for irratuitous circulation, and extra 
copies will be furnished on application. 
It gives information about the town and 
answers questions often asked by stran- 
gers. 

Sharon otters, to those seeking homes, 
advantages and attractions unexcelled and 
perhaps unequalled by any other locality. 
The great natural requisites to health and 
happiness are pure air, pure water and 
good drainage. In all of these Nature 
lias been very generous to Sharon. To 
these are here added beautiful scenery, 
fine walks and drives, and all these things 
may be enjoyed without sacrificing scarce- 
ly anything that the residents of large 
cities liave been accustomed to enjoy. 

My carriage is at Sharon station every 
pleasant day except Saturday and Sunday 
on arrival of the 11.00 A.M. and 2.00 FM. 
trains from Boston, and is at tire service 
of those desirous of seeing property that 
is for sale or to let. Any further informa- 
tion desired Avill be cheerfully furnished 
on application. I have a telephone in my 
residence, and can ])e comnuinicated witli 
at all times from any Boston or su})urban 
telephone. A carriage and driver will l)e 
furnished at reasonable rates to those 
seeking board. 

W. B. WICKES. 

Sharon, Mass., March 1, 1891. 



HOW TO REACH SHARO^s^ 

Sharon is seventeen miles from Boston 
and twentj'^-five from Providence, on the 
main line of the Providence Division of 
the Old Colon}^ Railroad. There are thir- 
teen trains from Boston each week-da}', 
including a theatre train and two trains 
from Boston and three to Boston on Sun- 
day. Time of trains from Boston, twen- 
ty-nine to forty minutes. This road is 
one of the oldest, best equipped and most 
carefully managed roads in the country. 
It crosses no drawbridges, is double- 
tracked with heavy steel rails its entire 
length, and the trains are supplied with 
plenty of cars, so each passenger can 
have a seat. 

As most of the trains are express be- 
tween Boston and Sharon, and consume 
but thirty minutes between the two places, 
it will be seen that we are practically as 
near Boston as many places that join that 
city. 

The Boston station on Columbus Ave- 
nue and Park Square, at the foot of Bos- 
ton Common, is convenient and comfort- 
able, and architecturally is tlie most beau- 
tiful in the United States. It is said by 
those who have travelled extensively to 
be unequalled in tlie world, when conve- 
nience, looks and surroundings are taken 
into account. The station in Sharon is 
also well adapted to the wants of the 
travelling public and is supplied with the 
famous Sharon Spring water. 



Single fares from Sharon to Boston, 
forty cents ; five tickets, one dollar and 
seventy-five cents, or thirty-five cents 
each ; a three-months' ticket, twenty dol- 
lars : a two-months' ticket, fifteen dollars ; 
one month, eight dollars. The net cost 
on a three-months' ticket is only twelve 
cents a trip ; on a two-months' fourteen 
cents ; and on a one-month ticket, fifteen 
cents. Single fares from Sharon to Provi- 
dence, sixty cents. One thousand-mile 
tickets, good on any portion of the Old 
Colony system, twenty dollars. Passen- 
gers from New York can reach Sharon by 
the all-rail Shore Line or by the Provi- 
dence steamboat line. To drive from 
Boston to Sharon, take Brush Hill turn- 
pike and come via Canton. From Jamai- 
ca Plain come via Dedham and Norwood. 
From NeAV Bedford, Taunton and Fall 
River come via Easton Furnace, or come 
bv rail via Mansfield. 



Sliaron has three mails a day to and 
from Boston, and three to and from 
Providence. The Western Union Tele- 
graph Company has an oftice in the rail- 
road station, and the wires of the New 
England Telephone Company enable us to 
talk M'itli all the country. Communication 
can be had, at all hours of the day or 
night, direct with my residence in Sharon 
from any telephone in Boston or any of 
the surrounding towns, and, in fact, by 
means of the long-distance teleplione,with 
almost any large city in the land. 



BOSTON DIVISION OF OLD 
COLONY RAILROAD. 

Boston station, Columbus Avenue and 
Park Square. 

Trains leave Sharon for 
Boston — 7.03, 7.44, 8.06, 10.03, A.M.; 
12.10, 2.51, 5.20, G.28, 7.41, 10.55, 
P.M. Sundays, 9.09, A.M.; 2.17, 
5.14, P. M. 
Return — 6.30, 8.00, 8.30, 11.00, 11.35, 
A.M.; 2.00, 4.15, 5.30, 5.50, 8.00, 
10.00, 11.05, P. M. Sundays, 9.00, 
A. M. ; 4.00, P. M. 
Providence— 7.19, 8.17, 9.12, 9.29, 11.29, 
A.M.; 12.15, 2.31, 4.47, 6.07, 6.21, 
8.30, 10.30, 11.39, P. M. Sundays, 
9.32, A. M.; 4.34, P. M. 
This time-table is liable to slight chan- 
,i?es. My carriage is usually at Sharon 
station every pleasant day but Saturdays, 
on arrival of the trains that leave Boston 
at 11.00 A. M. and 2.00 P. M. If you wish 
to see me at any other train please give 
previous notice. Remember you can talk 
direct with my house from any telephone 
in Boston or from any town within four- 
teen miles of Boston. 



DESCRIPTION. 

Shakon, Norfolk County, Massachu- 
setts, offers great inducements to the 
farmer, the poultry keeper, the gardener, 
the manufacturer and the invalid, as also 
to those seeking a quiet, pleasant home. 



Its attractions as a suburban residence, 
especially to those (loins: business in Bos- 
ton, Providence and neiifliboring towns 
and cities, are unequalled by any other 
place within tifty miles of Boston. 

Tliis book is intended to make Sharon 
lietter known and appreciated, and not as 
a catalogue or advertisement of the prop- 
erty that is for sale or to let here. I have 
a larse number of fai-ms for sale, varying- 
in price from 8000 to .$12,000 ; also houses 
furnished and unfurnished for sale and 
to let, and various kinds of business for 
sale. 

It is but ri,ij:ht I should say that in the 
villair*' and by the lake the demand for 
houses and tenements usually exceeds the 
supply. I hope this will soon be reme- 
died by capitalists buildiuii; houses here. 
At present, rents are rather higher than 
in adjoining towns. 

As this work is only issued once or 
twice a year, and such property is con- 
stantly changing hands, it is obviously 
impossible to catalogue a correct list in 
this book. Write me your wants and I 
will clieer fully inform you what there is 
in the market here. 

ITltK All:, I'KKFKCr DUAIXAGE. 

Sharon is the most elevated town in 
eastern Massachusetts, and from its situ- 
ation and the nature of tlu' soil, the natural 
drainage is almost perfect. It is at the 
summit of tlu; watershed of three rivers, 
and it is a singular fact that though a very 



s 



large town in extent, yet not one drop of 
water runs into it from any other town, 
but water runs out of Sharon into each 
of the seven acljoinin": towns. Thus it 
will be seen that the air and tlie water of 
Sharon can never be polluted by the 
drainage of any other town. 

The town is from two hundred to five 
liundred and thirty feet above sea level. 
It is sheltered on the east by the Blue 
Hills of Milton. The soil is gravelly, and 
contains iron, and there is a great deal of 
pine wood growing in the town. All of 
these things, Avith the perfect drainage, 
tend to make the air of Sharon pure and 
healthy ; but in addition to all this, some 
as yet undiscovered law causes a large 
amount of ozone to ahvays exist in the 
air here, making it at all times soft, balmy 
and extremely agreeable. Even the much 
and justly abused east wind is deprived 
of its harshness here and is not disagree- 
able. 

In 1871 the Boston Traveller said: "In 
a work on local causes of consumption 
by Dr. Bowditch, published in 1852, he 
speaks of Sharon as likely to be free from 
lung diseases. The correctness of his 
opinion is now shown by the official rec- 
ords, from which it appears that one- 
fourth of all who have died in the town 
in the last live years Avere over eighty 
years of age, and more have died from 
old age than from consumption. 

" In the first four months of this year 
one-half the deaths in the town were from 
old age, and were of persons over eighty- 



seven. It should be added tliat Sharon is 
a srroAvin.if toAvn, with twenty per cent, of 
its inhabitants between live and twenty 
years of age." 

More than fifty years ago, when the 
Boston v.<: Providence Railroad was being 
built. Major McNeil, who was tlien the 
most eminent civil engineer in this coun- 
try, spent some time in Sharon. He pub- 
lished an article calling attention to the 
remarkal)ly pure air of Sharon, but at that 
time the intluence of climate on health 
had not received attention, and the mat- 
ter was forgotten until twenty years lat- 
er, when the late A. D. Bacon, M. 1)., of 
Sharon, calk'd the attention of other phj^- 
sicians to the snl)ject. 

Dr. Bacon said: "I have never seen 
contagions or infectious diseases become 
epidemic here. I liave had cases of small 
pox. diplitlieria and scarlet fever in their 
most viruh'Ut form among my patients, 
umh'r ciicumstances where we should^ 
suppose they would spread fearfully, but* 
tliose most exposed did not take the dis- 
ease." He also said : ''All diseases seem 
to yield more readily to medical treatment 
here than in any other locality with which 
I am ac(|uainted." 

Careful tests made under the direction 
of a scientific man have shown more 
ozone in the air of Sharon than in any 
other place where tests have been made 
east of the KocJ<y Mountains. 

Ozone exists here in such (pianlities as 
to destioy all disease germs in the atmos- 
l)lM'r«'. ^o lliat no infections or eontagious 



10 

disease ever has become epidemic here, 
and probably none ever will. The New 
York Medical Tribune says : "Air loaded 
with putrid or miasmatic exhalations is 
immediately purified l)y contact with 
ozonized air, and again a development of 
such exhalation cannot well take place 
in the presence of ozone. The action of 
ozone on such impure air is extremely 
powerful. According to Schoebein, an 
atmosphere containing only 1-3240000 of 
ozone is capable of destroying all noxious 
matter contained in an equal volume of 
miasmatic air. Where or whenever there- 
is a deficiency of this quantity of ozone, 
there will occur zymotic and contagious 
diseases, such as typhoid, scarlatina, 
measles, small-pox, miasmatic fevers, 
yellow fever, etc., as well as all sorts of 
skin diseases." 



By the official report of 1888 it appears 
there were twenty-two deaths in Sharon 
that year, of whicli number eight were of 
persons who came here in very feeble 
healtli. This leaves the actual number of 
deaths of Sharon people fourteen, or less 
than ten in one thousand. There were in 
town about one hundred and twenty-five 
children under five years of age, and only 
two deaths of children under five years, 
and yet some thirty of the children in 
town were waifs, sent here to board, 
most of them weakly, and fed from the 
bottle. Can any other town show such a 



11 



record? Here coiues in my theory that 
Aharon milk is more healthy than that 
from other towns. The records will show 
that the chances of a baby living to ,i>row 
np are several times better in Sharon than 
they are in almost any other place. 



SHARON AS A HEALTH RESORT. 

HAY FKVKR, COXSU:MrTION AND ROSE COLD 
CUKKl). 

The pure air of Sharon lias already been 
spoken of. It is of such a peculiar na- 
tiu-e that invalids feel its curative eftects 
at once, and I most earnestly advise the 
sick and convalescent to give it a trial. 
I can give the addi-esses of people who 
have been cured by a residence in Sharon 
of wiiat was pronounced by the best doc- 
tors to be the last stages of consumption, 
and can assure every one afflicted witli 
lung trouble that they will be sure to tlnd 
relief here, if they are not fully cured. 

Tliere have been many cases of Hay Fe- 
ver and Rose Cold cured here. The air 
of Sharon has been, found l)eneficial for 
very young children, and the several chari- 
table institutions of Boston that have 
charge of babies send many of their 
wards here to board. Though these are 
usually orphans wlio have inherited dis- 
eases from one or both of their parents, 
and are necessarily while here fed from 
a bottle, vet with Sharon air and Sharon 



12 



milk, the great majority of them live and 
thrive. 

Physicians in Boston and in towns 
nearer Sharon, having seen the eflects of 
Sharon air on these babies, are beginning 
to also send tlie weakly children of their 
wealthy patrons here to board. 

The best physicians all over New Eng- 
land and New York have learned the bene- 
ficial effects of Sharon air, and send their 
chronic and convalescent patients to me 
to get them boarded, and though this part 
of my business is of no benefit to me, I 
am always happy to aid such people to get 
places suited to their requirements and 
their purses, and from my long and va- 
ried experience I am often able to make 
\ aluable suggestions on the subject. 

No person Avho is sick should go to any 
far-off land in search of health and rest, 
until they have given Sharon a trial, since 
here one is not necessarily deprived of 
any comfort, luxury, or medical attend- 
ance that can be obtained in any city in 
our land. Remember, the air of Sharon 
is entirely different from that of any other 
town in the vicinity. Invalids will almost 
always feel its beneficial effects as soon 
as they arrive here, and the trouble and 
cost of giving it a trial are merely nom- 
inal. 

I can give the addresses of doctors of 
all schools in Boston, New York. New- 
port, Fall River, New Bedford, and many 
otlier places, who have had patients sick 
with most of the diseases that flesh is 
heir to, who have derived benefit from a 



13 



residence here, but reference to them is 
hardly necessary, since the best of the 
medical profession throughout the coun- 
try are enthusiastic in their praises of 
Sharon air. But many times they find it 
hard to convince their patients that so 
simple and easy a change as a journey to 
Sharon will eftect tlieir cure. 

Said one of Boston's best physicians 
not long ago, "If I could make my wealthy 
patients believe in Sharon as I do, I could 
All every house in your little town, but 
they think they ought to go way oft' some- 
where." Again, we say to all invalids, 
give Sharon air atrial. It w^on'tcost you 
much, and may and probal)ly Avill benefit 
you as it has hundreds of others. 

Owners of fancy animals have found 
tliat the air of Sharon is as beneficial to 
beast as to man, and send their valuable 
dogs and horses here to board. There are 
several establisliments devoted to the 
care of dogs. In 1S72, when almost every 
horse throughout the land was sick with 
the epizootic, our horses in Sharon es- 
caped, tliough used every day, thus show- 
ing that the ozone in the air here does 
kill disease germs. In one case at that 
time, a horse driven into town by a pedler 
(lied of the disease, while the express- 
man's horse in the next stall did not take 
it. tliough no special jn-ecautions were 
nscd to |>r('\<'nt it. 



14 



THE SANITARIUM. 

A ne^v sanitarium has been erected 
about a half-mile northwest of the vil- 
la2:e. It is for the treatment of incipient 
pulmonary troubles arising in those who 
are able to pay a small amount of weekly 
l3oard. At flrst the institution is for 
Avomen only, although as the project 
grows the institution is to build small 
cottages adjoining the present building, 
by which both sexes may be accommo- 
dated. The success of similar institu- 
tions in Europe has induced the projectors 
to establish this one, the first of its kind 
in New England, in the belief that the 
death-rate by consumption can by such 
methods be diminished. Although a small 
amount of weekly board will be charged, 
the institution is virtually a charitable 
one. The board of directors are as fol- 
lows : Nathaniel H. Stone, Treasurer, 
Fiske Building, State St., Reginald Gray, 
Alfred Bowditch, L. Vernon Briggs, Miss 
Olivia T. Bowditch, Miss M. Harriet 
Denny, Miss Alice M. Curtis, Mrs. Hora- 
tio A. Lamb; Medical Directors, Vincent 
Y. Bowditch, M.D., Robert AV. Lovett, 
M.l).; Consulting Physicians, Henry I. 
Bowditch, M. D., Frederick I. Knight, 
M. D. 

Applications for admission should be 
addressed to the Matron and Superinteud- 
ent, Sharon, Mass. 



The Sharon Water Company supplies 
the toAvn Mith an abundance of pure water 
taken from an immense sprina^ near tlie 
head waters of the Neponset and Taun- 
ton rivers. The water of tliis spring has 
long been celebrated, and tradition tells 
of many remarkable cures eftected bj' it, 
though chemical analysis shows no espec- 
ial medicinal qualities but a remarkable 
absence of all deleterious qualities. In 
short, as far as I am able to discover, it 
is simply very pure water which comes 
out of the ground and which remains ever 
the same, summer and winter. Another 
remarkable thing about it is that it re- 
tains its purity and freshness if kept in 
glass a long while. The spring flows 
about 330.000 gallons a day. From its 
great elevation there is no danger of its 
ever l)ecoming contaminated. 

This water is raised l\v steam power to 
;i staaulpipe, from whicli it is distributed 
under a suflicient head to not only enter 
the liighest rooms in the village, but also 
to extinguish tires, the town being sup- 
plied Avitli tliree well-equipped and well- 
manned iiose companies and a hook and 
lathhr company. 

TAXES AM) TOWN Al TAIHS. 

Those Avho would reside where tlie pub- 
lic aft'airs are carefully managed and the 
l)ublic money judiciously spent, and would 
dodfja those towns and cities where regk- 



16 



lessness and extravagance prevail, will 
find in Sharon a desirable home. 

The voters of Sharon are liberal in 
making appropriations for all objects 
supported by town taxes, but so carefully 
and judiciously is the money expended 
that the tax is kept low on a low valua- 
tion. Politics never enter into town af- 
fairs, the best man being chosen to office 
without regard to political parties. This 
town was the first one in the State to sup- 
ply free text-books to scholars. It sup- 
ports a High School, thougli not obliged 
by law to do so, and the schools are all 
kept forty weeks in a year. The schools 
are partly supported by the income of an 
invested fund, which Avas given for that 
purpose many years ago. The town debt 
is small and being rapidly diminished. 
There is a very good Town Hall, good 
fire apparatus well housed, and the toAvn's 
poor are well cared for on a large farm. 
At present, hoAvever, there are no pau- 
pers, and city people sometimes find board 
at the town farm. The appropriations' 
recommended by the different boards of 
town officers are generally voted Avithout 
a dissenting voice. Yet Avith all this lib- 
erality on the part of the toAvn, the tax 
rate averages only ten dollars on one 
thousand dollars, and that, as has been 
said, on a low valuation. 

There is a reasonable hope that even 
this loAV tax rate Avill soon be considerably 
reduced. The A'aluation of the town is 
but little more than one million dollars. 
Should a few rich people gain a residence 



here, as they talk of doinij:, the valuation 
of Sharon avouUI be more than doubled, 
and the tax rate be reduced in the same 
proportion. 

The f olloAving extract from the Sharon 
Advocate Avill serve to show what manner 
of a town Sharon is : 

" This toAvn has neither the manufacto- 
ries nor the wealtli of most of the adjoin- 
inj; towns, but in the moral and social 
standing of its people, and its benevolence 
and public spirit, it will compare favor- 
ably with other towns. When a law was 
pa.ssed permitting towns to furnish text- 
books free to schools, it was just like 
Sharon to be the first town in the State 
to adopt the plan. It was just like Shar- 
on to support a High School, though not 
compelled by laAv to do so. For thirty 
years it has been just like Sharon to vote 
all the school money the school committee 
asked for, and these votes are generally 
passed unanimously. In other towns and 
cities their appropriations are usually hig- 
gled ovei- and cut down. For thirty years 
it has been just like Sharon to vote with- 
out (juestion almost every cent of money 
that has been asked for, for every reason- 
able purpose, and it has been just like 
Sharon to spend that money so judicious- 
ly that we take good care of our poor, 
liave good roads and as low taxes as any 
town in the State. It is just like Sharon 
to have a fine town hall at a moderate 
cost ; a good Tiiblic Library ; to have its 
lake well stocked with fish ; to liave the 
telephone and telegraph, and to have rail- 



18 



road accommodations unsurpassed by any 
town of its size within a like distance of 
Boston. More than fifty years ago, a 
few citizens of Sharon supplied them- 
selves with pure water from Sharon 
Springs, by forcing it up to an elevation 
of one hundred feet, which was something 
they had never seen accomplished, and 
which wise men told them could never be 
done. This was just like Sharon, and 
unlike any town in the vicinity ; and now, 
when the old w^orks are inadequate, it is 
just like Sharon to vote unanimously a 
liberal sum to supply the whole village 
with pure water. We might mention many 
other commendable things in which Shar- 
on is unlike other towns, if our space 
would permit." 

STORES AND MARKETS. 

Sharon being a farming town with milk 
farms, market gardens and poultry yards, 
fresh and nice vegetables, poultry, milk 
and eggs are always to be had. Physi- 
cians say that milk from cows kept in 
Sharon is healthier than that from cows 
kept in less healthy towns. This will not 
seem unreasonable to those who know 
how sensitive the nursing infant is to the 
health of the woman who gives it suste- 
nance. The stores and. markets of Shar- 
on supply meats, groceries and fruits, 
equal in quality to the best sold in Boston, 
and the vast woodlands of Sharon supply 
an abundance of that fuel to those who 
would enjoy the healthy luxury of an open 
wood fire. 



19 



SOCIETY. 



Socially, Sharon is like most well or- 
dered New England villages, much enliv- 
ened of late, however, by the presence of 
families and individuals of culture Avho 
have come from other places to tind pleas- 
ant, liealthy homes here. The Masoips, 
( )dd Fellows and Grand Army members 
meet with lodges in Canton, which is 
only three miles away. The Sharon mem- 
1)ers of tlie Grand Army maintain an out- 
post and reading room. There are Cha- 
tauqua, Unity and several other literary 
clubs and societies which enliven the win- 
ter evenings for those socially inclined. 
Four churches furnish religious instruc- 
tion. There is a good Public Library, 
free to all. The Town Hall is used for 
lectures, concerts, entertainments and as- 
semblies, and a late train from Boston 
every night, summer and winter, gives an 
opportunity to attend lectures, concerts 
and theatres, in that city. The town al- 
ways votes no license, and no rum-shops 
or disrejiutable houses are allowed. 

New comers to the town are sure of a 
rordial welcome from those already here. 
It is characteristic of Sharon people to 
like to see their neighbors have a pleas- 
ant and enjoyable time. 

SCENERY, WALKS AND DRIVES. 

The scenery, walks and drives of Shar- 
on are unsurpassed, and I think un- 
equalled in any other town in eastern 



20 

Massachusetts. They cannot be adequate- 
ly described, but must be seen to be ap- 
preciated. Usually where the scenery is 
wild the roads are poor, if not absolutely 
unsafe. It is not so here. The roads are 
good in all parts of the town. 

In the following drives you are sup- 
posed to start from the post-office : Every 
one will wish to drive around Massapoag 
pond ; from the post-office and back it is 
six miles. Another drive you must take 
to see Sharon is to Moose Hill. The 
nearest town road is the one past the de- 
pot, but it is very hilly. There is a very 
romantic road to Moose Hill, but it is not 
a town way. It is through the yard at 
Sharon station, and across the "old dam." 
It is beautifully wooded, nicely shaded, 
and not very rough. To return by easier 
grades, come down the "Moose Hill road" 
to Main street. From the summit of this 
hill may be seen the residences of one- 
quarter of all the inhabitants of Massa- 
chusetts. The following interesting 
sketch of what may be seen from Moose 
Hill was prepared for me by E. G. Cham- 
berlain, Esq., of Auburndale, Mass., Avho 
is a member of the Appalachian Club. 

"Moose Hill is 530 feet above sea level. 
The tower affords an additional elevation 
of twenty feet. The toAver is square, the 
sides facing precisely to the four cardi- 
nal points. Let us take tlie views in or- 
der from left to right. All elevations are 
reckoned from sea level and all bearings 
.from the true meridian. 

" Due north is West Dedham Unitarian 



21 



Church, six miles distant, quite conspicu- 
ous on a hill. A little to the right is Ar- 
lington Heights, twenty miles, and under 
it the Theological Seminary, on Institu- 
tion Hill, in Newton. More to the right 
is Norwood village, five miles, and Ded- 
hara with its court-house dome, nine 
miles. About N. N. E. is Boston, the 
State House dome bearing N. 25^ 27' E., 
eighteen miles. Just at its left is the 
white tower of Roxbury standpipe, and 
between and beyond them is Bunker Hill 
Monument. A trifle to the right is the 
large village of Hyde Park, ten miles. N. 
E. is tlie Blue Hill range, Great Blue at 
the left being eight miles distant and 635 
feet high. A little left of it we may get 
a glimpse of tide water near Winthrop, 
while nearer we look down on the mead- 
ows of Neponset river. Next to Great 
Blue is Hancock Hill, then Hillside Street 
Gap. Bugbee Hill and the peak of Chicka- 
taubut, n]H feet high, under whose left 
flank is Bear Hill, hardly separable. In 
line with Chickataubut is Canton Corner 
Church, Ave and one-half miles. A little 
to the right is Canton village, four miles, 
and nearly over its left-hand steeple is 
Strawberry Hill, twenty-one miles, crown- 
ed by a standpipe. To the left of this 
and nearer, is the tower on Penn's Hill 
(in Braintree?) . To the right of the right 
hand Canton steeple is the triple tow- 
ered Atlantic House at Nantasket, twenty- 
one miles. Between Strawberry Hill and 
tlie Atlantic House may be seen Massa- 
<husetts Bay, the sea horizon line being 



22 



thirty and one-half miles distant. A little 
to the riglit, nine miles off, are the three 
tall spires of Randolph, about three de- 
ijrees apart, the left-hand one bearing E. 
is^. E. Due E. is Sharon, Uvo miles, and 
over it the large village of Stoughton, six 
miles. Considerably to the right, ten miles 
off, is Brockton, just right of its tallest 
spire is the Standi sh Monument, on Cap- 
tain's Hill in Duxbury, twenty-eight and 
one-half miles. The large pond two miles 
S. E. is Massapoag. Nearly over its left 
end is East Bridge water, fifteen miles. 
About over its centre is Bridgewater, fif- 
teen miles, and over its right end Middle- 
boro, tAventv-two miles. Due South (S. 
0*-^ 20' W.) is Great Meadow, Hill in Reho- 
both, seventeen miles, crowned by a group 
of trees. Nearly under its right base is 
Mansfield, seven miles. About S. S. W. 
are the two spires of Foxboro, four and 
one-half miles. 

Half way between Great Meadow and 
Foxboro, appears a very small, sharp peak, 
Oak Hill in Attleboro, fifteen miles, and 
nearer, at its right, the village of East 
Attleboro. Turning nearly to W. S. W. 
we see, three miles off. South Walpole, 
with its short, white steeple. Nearly 
over its left is the summit of Woonsocket 
Hill in Rhode Island, twenty miles. To 
the right of W. S. W. is the tall cupola of 
Dean Academy in Franklin, with steeples 
at its right. 

"Turning nearly to W. N. W. we see 
the low-pointed ridge of Asnybumskit 
Hill, in Paxton, 1407 feet, thirty-seven 



23 



miles ; and more towards N. W. the very 
conspicuous Wachusett Mountain in 
Princeton, of the same range, 2018 feet, 
forty -three miles, is seen over Walpole 
villaji2:e, 2 1-2 miles off. Midway between 
Asnyhumskit and Wachusett is seen Rice 
Hill in Rutland, forty-one miles, a little 
left of which are three steeples, nearly 
in line, one above the other; viz., Hop- 
kinton, seventeen miles, Shrewsbury, 
twenty-eiirht miles, and Rutland, forty- 
two miles. Somewhat to the right of 
Wachusett is the low ridge of Monoosnook 
Hill in Leominster, forty-one miles, seen 
over Medfield village, G 1-2 miles off. 
Still to the right is Grand Monadnock 
Mountain, in Jaffrey, N. H., sixty-eight 
miles, ;?170 feet high, a sharp peak falling 
off very gradually to the right. Between 
Monoosnook and Monadnock, just N.W., 
is Sherborn Church, eleven miles. Against 
the right flank of Monadnock is the round 
nob of Watatick Mountain, in Ashburn- 
liam, Mass., 1847 feet, flfty-two miles, a 
peak of the Wachusett range. This range 
we follow to the right of New Hampshire 
by Mt. Kidder in New Ipswich, Spofford 
and Temple Mountains in Temple, and 
the noticeable twin summits of Pack Mo- 
nadnock, near Peterboro. The latter are 
about 2280 feet high and sixty-two miles 
distant. Between Watatick and Kidder, 
the near round hill, nineteen miles off, 
is Nf)bscot, in Framinghatn, (i02 feet. 

" To the right of the Pack Monadnock, 
eight miles off, is a group of hills in Dover 
through a gap in which we get a glimpse 



24 



of Lyncleboro Pinnacle, sixty-two miles 
oft*. Turning far towards the north we 
see Prospect Hill, in Waltham. eighteen 
miles, with Little Prospect on its left flank, 
and further left the village of Lincoln, 
twenty-one miles. I have identified some 
prominent buildings in about fifty villages, 
some of them requiring the telescope. 
Many other villages have been observed, 
but not yet fully identified. The spire at 
the right of Foxboro may prove to be in 
Pawtucket, R. I. The calculated bearing 
of Brown University, at Providence, 22 
1-2 miles, places it midAvay betAveen the 
Foxboro steeples, but I have never been 
favored Avith a view of it. It is probably 
not visible." 

The air on the hill is very invigorating, 
and persons with weak lungs enjoy it 
much. Invalids, by carrying a lunch and 
spending some hours on the hill, are often 
benefited. I regret that there is no 
boarding place there. Perhaps some time 
there will be a sanitarium or hotel on the 
hill. It would be Avell patronized. 

On your return, on Moose Hill Street, 
you will pass the barn of Henry L. de 
Bussigny, Avliere are kept in summer some 
of the finest saddle horses in the country. 

His stable is wortliy of a visit from all 
lovers of fine-bred horses. 

The poultry house that you pass on re- 
turning is over eight hundred feet long, 
and has a Aving, not in sight of the road, 
four hundred and eighty feet long. It 
Avas intended for ten thousand foAvl. 



25 



For a short drive take Main Street to 
Foxboro, turn tlie first left throuj?h "Gun- 
liouse Lane," then next left home. In 
"Gun-house Lane" formerly stood the 
irun-house in which was stored the cannon 
to protect the inhabitants from their ene- 
mies. Elm Lawn, near the corner of the 
lane was formerly the Kandall homestead, 
and here died, not many years ago, "Bos- 
ton Randall," a very aged negro, and 
probably the last slave owned in Massa- 
chusetts. He was brought from Africa, 
and kept as a body servant until he finally 
became a family pet. He refused his 
freedom, and was kindly cared for by the 
family Avhile he lived. lie was buried, as 
was his master's family, in the Chestnut 
Tree Cemetery. 

Another short drive is past the Sanita- 
rium to the town farm. 

For a very romantic drive, take Main 
Street and Walpole Street to Mr. Benja- 
min Klioades' house, turn sharp to the left 
and folloAv County Street until it comes 
to Main Street, near Paradise cranberry 
meadow. County Street is full of sharp 
pitches, and not much travelled, but it is 
decidedly wild, and has a history. It is 
one of the oldest roads in Massachusetts, 
having been called "the path to Bristol." 
It was over this road tliat Madame Knight 
rode on tlie first niglit of her famous jour- 
ney to New Yorl^, and the "Wayman's 
Ordinary," where she spent the first night, 
stood near where the cranberry storehouse 
now stands. Here Ebenezer Billings is 
supposed to have ])uilt his tavern about 



26 



1658, many years before there was a white 
person in what is now Canton. 

For a variety of ferns drive through 
the Pilgrim Swamp road. Maiden hair 
ferns grow here. You will have a ro- 
mantic drive to go past Leonard's mill, 
turning sharp to the left at the cemetery 
and taking the first right and then the 
next right. Near the house of W. H. 
Agry, on this road, you get a splendid 
view and an assortment of ferns. 

Drive to Wolomolpoag pond, and turn 
to the left and the next left home. If you 
care for places of historic interest, when 
on this drive take the right at Mrs. T. E. 
Clark's, and go to Clapp's sawmill. Here 
was the foundry where, under General 
Gridley, was cast the first cannon ever 
made in the country. 

Not far from Mrs. Clark's, King Philip 
and his warriors camped the night they 
burned Medfield, in 167G. They passed 
the "Wayman's Ordinary" just at dusk, 
but spared it because one of the chiefs 
said, "Billings is Indians' friend." 

It is six miles to Foxboro, and six to 
South Walpole, On the South AValpole 
road Mr. Lyman Plj^mpton has a culti- 
vated cranberry bog and a cultivated white 
pine grove, both equal, if not superior 
to any others in the State. To Walpole 
it is five miles, six to NorM'ood and three 
to Canton. At Canton go and see the 
large, solid stone viaduct, by which the 
railroad crosses the highway and Nepon- 
set river. It used to be considered one 
of the wonders of the age. Also call and 



27 

see a model of the famouH Strasburg 
clock at Halves' jewelry store. It was 
made by Mr. Hawes, and he kindly shows 
it to all who call. 

To Dedham it is ten miles. Here on 
East Street is the Old Fairbanks house, 
which has been occupied by the same 
family for two hundred and forty years. 
For fv\'enty-flve cents Miss Fairbanks will 
show you many curious relics and heir- 
looms of tlie famiiy. 

To Stoughton it is six miles, and to 
North Easton it is seven. At the latter 
the Unitarian church, the other public 
buildings, and the magnificent grounds of 
F. L. Ames, which are open to the pub- 
lic, are worthy of a visit. To Easton 
Furnace, seven miles, is a pleasant drive, 
and a little off the road, in East Mansfield, 
are Austin's poultry grounds. Here at 
times may be seen as many as five thou- 
sand geese fattening for tlie market, as 
well as immense (luantities of hens, ducks 
and turkeys. Mr. Austin sometimes feeds 
sixty bushels of grain a day to his fowl. 
To East Foxboro is six miles. Much of 
the way this road runs beside the railroad 
track. 

Lovers of wild flowers and ferns will 
And a great variety here. Those who de- 
light to see farming operations will be 
interested in the market gardens and 
greenhouses on Sharon plain, and the 
cranberry meadows farther west. The 
woods and ponds of Sharon furnish game 
for the hunter, and the numerous ponds 
and brooks furnish fish for the angler. 



28 



and the ponds also furnish ample oppor- 
tunities for bo(iting and bathing. Besides 
numerous mill-ponds in Sharon, there are 
two beautiful sheets of water, called 
Wolomolpoag .and Massapoag. Though 
only one mile apart, they are at the head 
of different rivers : on^e flows to the west 
and the other to the east. Massapoag 
contains four hundred and sixty acres of 
water and is three hundred feet above sea 
level. There is a drive completely around 
it. Formerly the water flowed from this 
pond into both the Taunton and the Ne- 
ponset rivers. The early settlers used to 
liken it to a leaky barrel; from which the 
water floAved in all directions. 

Being at the summit of both rivers, it 
was the boundary between the lands of 
the Narragansett and the Massachusetts 
Indians, while Wolomolpoag flowed into 
the Taunton and belonged exclusively to 
King Philip's tribe. The name Wolomol- 
poag is Indian and signifies pleasant water 
or s\veet water, and it was most truth- 
fully named, being a beautiful sheet of 
w^ater. 

HOUSES, FARMS AND WOODLANDS. 

Within a reasonable walking distance 
of Sharon station are hundreds of acres 
of eligible building sites, which can be 
purchased at reasonable prices, and which 
must surely rise in value. Real estate 
here has never been boomed, neither has 
it ever been depressed, and sales under 
foreclosure of mortgage are almost un- 
known here. 



29 



Since the introduction of water in 1885, 
there has l)een a marked growth of the 
village, and a gradual rise of improved 
property, which I have reason to believe 
will continue. Within a half-hour's drive 
of the two railroad stations of Sharon, 
there are some farms to sell, much below 
their value, which, if intelligently man- 
aged by one able and willing to work, 
would be sure to pay a handsome income. 
Farming in Sharon can be made unusu- 
ally profitable, as the summer people fur- 
nish a market for produce and the nu- 
merous manufacturing towns and cities 
in the vicinity take all the surplus at re- 
munerative prices. 

There are some large tracts of wood- 
lands and unimproved lamls for sale at 
great bargains, and some of them are cer- 
tain to become more valuable soon. Just 
now I have two or three estates which I 
am forbidden to advertise, but which^ 
must be sold for spot cash, even if sold 
at a sacrifice. 

I have farms of all sizes and prices for 
sale ; houses for sale and houses to let, 
furnished and unfurnished. I also have 
various kinds of business for sale. As 
this book is only published once, or at 
the most twice a year, and as property in 
my hands is constantly changing, it is 
useless to catalogue it in this work, and I 
do not attempt it ; but if those in want of 
a house, a farm or any business will write 
and describe their wants, I will try to suit 
them. I have lived in Sharon thirty-five 
years, the last twenty of which have been 



30 



devoted to the buying and selling of real 
estate on commission and to making the 
town better known. I know all the prop- 
erty that is in the market, and the cus-' 
tomers, and am generally enabled to serve 
my patrons in a satisfactory manner. 
In the spring I have a variety of fur- 
nished houses to rent, the prices varying 
from $150 or $200 to $1000 for the sea- 
son. I have also a few unfurnished 
houses and tenements to let, but the 
supply is limited and does not equal the 
demand. 

There is a large and sure opening in 
Sharon for hotels and boarding places, 
the demand being almost unlimited and 
far exceeding the supply. Persons of 
some means, who are adapted to the busi- 
ness, can find here an excellent opening. 
There is also a good opening for a good 
country tavern, where one can get enter- 
tainment for man or beast for one meal 
or a month. Such a house, well kept, 
would receive a liberal patronage. 

I am always pleased to show the town 
and the property in the market without 
expense to those seeking a home, whether 
they become customers or not. It is no 
trouble to show property. My carriage 
is at the Sharon station every pleasant 
day except Saturdays, on arrival of the 
11.00 A. M. and the 2.00 P. M. trains from 
Boston. If you wish to come any other 
day or on any other train, please notify 
me by mail, telegraph or telephone. I 
have a telephone in my house, and parties 
can always talk direct with me from any 



31 



telephone in Boston or on any of the sub- 
urban lines. M}'^ name and number will 
be found in the catalogue, which each 
telephone subscriber in Boston or any 
suburban town has. 

HOTELS AND BOARDING HOUSES. 

There is a large summer hotel by the 
shore of Massapoag, called the Massa- 
poag Lake House, which will accommo- 
date about one hundred and forty guests. 
Elm Lawn is a farm boarding house on 
the west shore of Massapoag. There are 
also four cottages of four rooms each, 
which are let in connection with the 
house. It can accommodate some forty. 
The Sharon also accommodates about 
forty. All these houses have good ac- 
commodations for horses. There are 
also a number of houses where from two 
to a dozen ])oarders are taken at prices 
varying from live to ten or twelve dollars 
a week, but the stipply is far short of the 
demand, and it is well to apply early for 
board. 

I intend to keep thoroughly posted in 
legard to those who have vacant rooms, 
their location, prices, etc., and am always 
happy to give information and make sug- 
gestions to those seeking board, and am 
often enabled to save them time, trouble 
and money. If those seeking board will 
write, enclosing stamp, I will cheerfully 
furnish them any desired information. 
Please state what you require, how many 
rooms, whether there are children, and 



32 



what prices you expect to pay. '-Reas- 
onslble prices," if from a stranger, con- 
veys no information to me, since thirty 
dollars a week from some of my patrons 
would be reasonable, and others find it 
hard to pay five dollars. Generally good 
board cannot be obtained for less than 
seven dollars a week. This branch of 
my business is of no pecuniary profit to 
me, but it is my desire and for my interest 
to see people located in Sharon to their 
own satisfaction. Good carriages, with 
careful drivers who know the boarding 
places, will be furnished on application 
to me at not to exceed one dollar an hour. 
Come by the 11.00 A.M. or 2.00 P.M. 
train ; if coming on any other train, give 
previous notice by mail, telegraph or tele- 
phone, and my carriage will be at the 
station. No charge for information or 
suggestions. 

SHARON IMPltOVEMENT ASSOCLVTIOX. 

The object of this Association, as set 
forth in its constitution, is, "To improve 
and ornament the streets and public 
grounds of Sharon, by planting and culti- 
vating trees, cleaning and repairing side- 
walks, and doing such other acts as shall 
tend to improve the town." 

Since its organization, on the twenty- 
eighth of February, 1881, it has put street 
lights on the principal streets, has built a 
passable road to Moose Hill and erected 
an observatory on its summit, has placed 
a Howard clock in the tower of one of 



33 



the cliurches, and has been the means of 
the chartering and formation of the 
Sharon Water Company, and the intro- 
(kiction into the villaije of an al)iindance 
of pure Avater. 

Very much remains to be done, and the 
■work of the Association commends itself 
1(1 absent friends of the town as well as 
all citizens. 

The annual membership fee is one dol- 
lar ; twenty-live dollars paid at one time 
makes one a life-member. Contributions 
to the funds of the Association are re- 
spectfully solicited, and Avill be carefully 
and judiciously expended ])y the executive 
(ommittee. Make checks payable to C. 
A. IIIXSOX, TreasuiMM-. or to W. R. 
NVICKES, President. 



SHARON SPRING WATER. 

For drinking: and all culinary and do- 
mestic uses, our water is ecpialled by 
few and unsurpassed by water from any 
otlier spriui; in the State. 

We arc i)repared to furnish, at reason- 
able rates, power for runnina: sewin.2: 
madiines, coftce irrinders. ice-cream 
freezers, churns, and other purposes 
wlicrc small power is needed. 

SHARON WATER COMrANV, 

By W. B. AViCKKS, Supi. 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



■-mi%^-- 



37 



W. B. WICKES, 

Geijerol Business jlgeiit 



Established 1S70. 

SHARON, MAS8 



REAL ESTATE 

Sold, Leased and Cared for. 

FARMS. HOUSES, WOODLANDS, 
BUSINESS CHANCES AND 

UNIMPROVED PROPERTY 

FOR. S.A.ILE. 

HOUSES TO LET, 

lUnil M HNISHKD ANI> rXFUHNISIIKD. 

MM Places Suliel. 

CONNECTED BY TELEPHONE. 



38 

Stock Farms. 



TN Sharon, I have for sale two line stock 
-■- farms, also one in Canton and one in 
Dedhani. These farms are snitable for 
■daMfllR!^ men who wish to raise horses or 
cattle for recreation or profit. They all 
contain desirable residence sites, are all 
in good neighborhoods and within from 
twenty-tive to forty minutes' travel to 
Boston. They all have good and two of 
them have very nice farm bnildings. They 
vary in size from 150 to 200 acres, and in 
price from 89.000 to .$15,000. I liave also 
on my list several other stock farms that 
are not so tony, and wliich I can sell for 
from $2,500 up. 



Sharon Heights Farms. 

A 30-ACRE farm within one-half mile 
•^^ of Siiaron Ileiglits station, with a 
new cottage lionsc and good barn ; some 
fruit and plentv of wood. Will be sold 
for f$3,500. 

T^OR .$3,200 I will sell a 24-acre farm. 
-*- All kinds of fruit, a nice pine grove, 
plenty of liard wood, elegant shade trees, 
land in a high state of cultivation, good 
eight-room cottage house in perfect re- 
pair, fair l)arn and plenty of sheds. This 
is a very pretty, home-looking place, near 
school and on Main Street. 



39 

Farms to Cut up. 



A30-ACRE1farral^for $2,200. Seven- 
room cottage, piazza and blinds, 
good barn and several poultry houses. 
This is a nice home-looking place. Ad- 
joining the above is a very good 46-acre 
farm with plenty of wood and a cranberry 
meadow. This place belongs to a widow 
who can't work it and will sell it for 
$2,200 on any terms. It is a big bargain 
for some one. The above farms are on 
Main Street, and within one mile of the 
station. They have level early land, and 
are sure to rise in value. 

Moose Hill Property. 

THE Dixey farm on Moose Hill has a 
seven-room cottage house, a poor 
barn and thirty acres of good land with 
plenty of wood, including a very nice 
grove. The situation is one of the pleas- 
antest and healthiest in this beautiful 
town, and the view is just splendid, cov- 
ering hundreds of miles of territory. 
Price $2,500, on easy terms. Also on the 
hill several acres of woodland, including 
one tract of ten acres, which I will sell 
for $400. I have several tracts of wood, 
trout streams and cranberry meadows at 
the foot of the hill on the borders of 
Beaver Meadow, any or all of which will 
be sold at a bargain. At the foot of the 
hill I have a very good fiO-acre farm, with 
fair buildings, for $2,700. It is a good 
farm for stock, poultry or vegetables. 



40 

Farms, 



ON the shores of Massapoa]^, I will sell 
you a OO-acre farm for $5,500. Plen- 
ty of fruit, large old cottage house, large 
barn. Near the above, but not bordering 
on the lake, is a good farm, with a new 
cottage house ; will l)e sold cheap. 

ON the edge of the village, 17 acres of 
land, some wood, two-story house, 
barn, hen lionses, apples; on tlie borders 
of a mill pond. 82.500. 



MORE than a mile from the station is 
a good little farm, nice two-story 
lioiise, barn and poultry house. Will keep 
two cows and a horse. A splendid chance 
to raise trout. $3,000. 



N 



EAR Massapoag is an 8-aci e farm. A 
good cottage, no barn, for $1,100. 



rpO settle an estate, a line grass and 
-*- vegetable ftirm of 40 acres, neat cot- 
tage house, fair ])arn and splendid sliade. 
Price {i«2,2O0. It ought to bring moie. 

ON tlie shore of Massapoag is a splen- 
did 5-acre lot, with a large stpiare 
old lioiise and small barn. Plenty of fruit 
and shade trees. This is an elegant loca- 
tion for a nic(! honsc. |2,2o0. 



41 

Village Houses. 



THE Hill house is pleasantly situated on 
Main Street, near schools, post-office, 
stores and churches. The house is finely 
])uilt, has tliirteen rooms, Sharon water, 
a wide porch and blinds. There are about 
50,000 feet of land, a small pine grove, 
some fruit trees, and the neighborhood is 
exceptional. Price $5,000, on any terms. 
The key is at Mr. Wickes' residence on 
Pond Street. 

The Tarablyn house is a nice village 
residence. House is nearly new, has eight 
rooms and Sharon water, and about 25,- 
000 feet of land, on wliicli is a good gar- 
den and an elegant pine grove. 

In tlie village is one-half a house and a 
good gar(U*n. The other half is occupied 
by desinihle neighbors. This would make 
a nice home for an aged couple t)r a lady. 
Price $M50. 

THoii >i57,0()0 or less, I can sell a modern 
-*- built, large 12-room liouse; plenty of 
land and sliside. house l)uilt by tlie day, 
cemeutfd cellar, hot and cold water, bath 
room and all iniprovemeuts. No pains 
nor expense were spared in building, but 
circumstances compel the owner to sell 
at once. 

X|^()K $S.(HK) I will sell two good houses 
-*- and barn. IMt'Uty of shade and fruit ; 
one acre of land. Must be sold to some 
one at once. 



42 

Farms in Sharon Tillage. 

AlO-ACRE farm in the heart of the 
village. Large house and barn, all 
in perfect order ; will be sold for $10,000. 
The land is worth that to cut up into 
building lots, but it ought to be kept in- 
tact for a gentleman's home. 

Poultry and Vegetable Farms. 



SHARON offers great inducements to 
poultry and vegetable farmers, as Ave 
have a large and constantly increasing 
liome market for all their products. I 
have a oO-acre poultry farm with plenty 
of wood and fruit, whicli I will sell on 
easy terms for less than the hen houses 
cost. This is a big bargain for some one. 

Hargniiis iu Renl Estate. 

OFTEN some one comes to me, very 
anxious for some reason to sell an 
estate, and offers it for nuich less than 
its real value. I have most always some 
such bargain on my hands, and 1 invite 
people in search of sucli trades to come 
and see me. 

T HAVE several estates to sell in the 
-^ village, some of which the owners are 
unwilling to have advertised. Come and 
see me. Rememl)er that it is no expense 
to you to see the property. 



43 

Gentlemen's Farms. 



To the city man who wishes to own a 
farm, Sliaron oft'ers many and great 
attractions ; and whether he wislies to 
reside on liis farm all the year or only in 
summer, he can make here a pleasant 
home. It is only thirty minutes' ride 
from Boston, with thirteen trains a day 
from that city. He can come and go at 
all hours, while our line air, pure water, 
V)cautiful scenery and fine roads make it 
a desirable town to live in. 

I HAVE a 200-acre farm with fair build- 
ings for .^7,000. A 60-acre farm with 
fair buildings for .$5,500. One of 60 acres, 
good buildings, modern improvements, 
.^7,500. One of 175 acres, a house and 
three barns, .$17,000. One of 140 acres, 
two houses and two barn*;, $15,000. One 
of 22 acres, $7,000. One of ten acres, $10,- 
000. Every one of the above possesses 
scenery and other attractions tliat make 
them desirable residences for people of 
cultured tastes. They are all good farms, 
some of them being in the hands of the 
descendants of the people who first set- 
tled on them ; others have been more or 
less improved by city men. All of them 
are offered at fair prices and some of them 
very low. 

IN Canton I freciuently have houses, 
farms and vacant lands for sale. Just 
now I liave a large farm there that I will 
sell at a bargain. 



u 
Low-pi'iced Farms. 



A FARM of 13 acres, house and barn, 
-^^ for $1, 100. A farm of live acres, house, 
barn and some fruit, $800. A nearly new 
cottage house, 8 acres of land, no barn, 
ij^ 1,100. The above are all more than two 
miles from station, but are on "[ood roads 
and near good neighbors. They are all 
good poultry farms. Occasionally I have 
little farms that I can sell as low as $400 
or $500, but not near the station. If you 
wish such a place, write me and describe 
your needs and your circumstances. 

MR. W. II. AGRY, Boston, lias a large 
tract of laud in Sharon, wliicli he will 
catu() to suit parties who wouhl malce de- 
sirable neighbors. Mr. Agry is prepared 
to erect houses for purchasers to suit their 
tastes, and will «ell to the right parties 
on any reasonal)le terms. His land is 
very sigiitly. has line water and perfect 
drainage, and comprises every variety of 
rocky wooded hills, groves, plains and 
fertile meadows. For further informa- 
tion apply to W. II. AGRY, Hotel liyron, 
Boston, or W. B. WICKES. wSharon. 

Hotels ami Boarding Houses. 



rpiIOSE having hotels and boarding 
-L houses to sell are averse to having 
the fact knoAvu, for fe:ir it will hurt tlie 
patronage of the house ; but I frequently 
have such places for sale, and any one 



45 



Avho lijis means to invest in such property 
Mould do Avell to confer with me. There 
is a irood opening in Sharon for one, 
U\o, tliree or even five good hotels. The 
demand for boarding places far exceeds 
tlie supply and is increasing every year. 
There is a good opening in the village for 
a house to be kept open the year through, 
and such a house -would pay in the winter. 
AVe don't want a cheap place, but a first- 
! lass country tavern, where man and beast 
can find entertainment for a day, a week 
or a month. 

ON Lake Massapoag I have for sale a 
few places that are quite sure to rise 
rapidly in value. Come and see them. 

Don't expect in this i)ook to find a cata- 
logue of all I have for sale : new i)laces 
are constantly l)eing ofl'ered me. Write 
me wljat you re(|uiie and how much cash 
you wish to i)ay down, and I will answer 

". (HI. 



Lands for Investment. 

^HAKOX is constantly growing !it a 
^' slightly accelerated speed, and now 
olVers a promising field for l)uilders and 
others with some spare money which they 
would like to invest. Rents are high here 
and there is a constant demand for terns 
ments w liich cannot be supplied. There 
is also a great demand for houses to be 
• Id on reasonable terms. To i)uilders I 
in oH'er several large tracts at such 



Hi 



prices that they can be sure of a large 
increase. One tract of GO acres is very 
desirable for such a purpose. A tract of 
about 300 acres, directly on the railroad, 
will be sold low, as the owner has died 
and the heirs do not live in this State, 
Other tracts on and near the railroad are 
for sale, and it would not be difficult for 
me to get 300 or perhaps 500 acres in one 
body, if parties with capital desire it. 
Come and see me and see what I can do 
in this line. 



Business Chances. 

rriHERE is a rare opening at Sharon 
-■- Heights for one or two young men to 
go into the grocery business, including 
coal, lime and building materials. There 
is a house, stable, store and several acres 
of land. The owner lias just died, after 
carrying on business there for forty years, 
and as iiis sons are in business elsewhere 
they will sell low. This is a splendid op- 
portunity for a father to start his son in 
business, as this part of the town is sure 
to grow. 

I have a fine opening for a man to go 
into the livery business. I will sell sta- 
ble and dAvelling house low and on easy 
terras. Will remove the stock or if pur- 
chaser desires he may have it at an ap- 
praisal. To a horse man this is a rare 
opening, as the, stand is an excellent one 
for boarding, livery and depot business. 



47 

To Let. 



IN Sharon village, a 13-roora house, one 
acre of land. $500 a year. 

In the village, a 7-room house; modern 
conveniences, including hot and cold %va- 
ter ; plenty of ^land. ^20 a month. 

On Pond Street, one-half a double 
house; Sharon water, sunny rooms; a 
very pleasant place. 

On Pond Street, near the lake, a very 
l)retty cottage, with ample grounds. Will 
sell this on very reasonable terms. 

The Turner house will be let furnished 
for a short or long period. It is neatly 
furnished, has a fine piano, is very sunny, 
has ample garden and shade, and is in the 
heart of the village. 

The tine residence of E. B. Squires will 
be let fully fnn'iished. It is a modern 
built house, in good order; splendid 
grounds, cared for by the owner; a Ihie 
kitchen garden stocked with small fruit 
will go with it if desired. 

At the lake shore I can let a flue fur- 
nislied house with ample grounds and 
shade; a horse and cow witli it if desired. 
Come early for a tenement, as they are 
scarce in Sharon and rents here arc not 
low. 



48 

Large Farms. 



THREE miles from a railroad is a 400- 
acre farm bordering a large pond. 
The land is all in a body ; has a southern 
exposure and some splendid views. Pres- 
ent owner has lived on it 40 years ; hav- 
ing no son, he has decided to sell it, and 
oflers it cheap. It is a splendid all-around 
farm with lots of w^ood on it. It is one 
of the most sightly places in Sharon. 
Come and see it. 

About 1 1-2 miles nearer the station, in 
the same neighborhood as above, is a 
good 200-acre farm belonging to a widow ; 
about one-half the land is wood. This 
farm also has some magnificent sites for 
a gentleman's residence and borders on a 
beautiful lake. 



'IV'EAR North Sharon school-house I 
■^^ have for sale a very good farm, Avith 
new cottage house and barn ; it has been 
run as a milk farm and is in prime order. 
Will sell low. 

Close to tlie above is another good lit- 
tle farm Avhich the owner is anxious to 
dispose of. Don't ask me to let these 
farms, as I can't do it. I expect to have 
a good farm to let the first of April, but 
it is not for sale. 

1 N the village I have a new ten-room 
-L house with all modern conveniences 
and 10,000 or 20,000 feet of land. Will 



id 



sell oil easy terms. Might let let it fur- 
nished. It is four minutes' ■walk from 
tlie station. 

I liave a well-built 13-room house and 
."•(1. 000 feet of land, including a fine grove, 
10 minutes' Avalk from the station, which 
I will sell on the installment plan if de- 
sired. 




B. GANNETT, 

og Street StoWe. 

DOUBLE AND SINGLE 

WITH OIJ WITHOUT DRIVERS FURNISHED 
AT SHOUT NOTICE. ALSO 

n^CKS, BARGES, ^KD 
'P:4<ETY jr^GOJVS. 

The foreman of this stable Is temperate nrnl an 
exj>ertonceU man who will give the bestof care to 

BOARDING HORSES. 

CARRIAGES SENT TO ANY TRAIN 

uiicn onlertil by mail or telegraph. My stable Is 
near resilience ot vV. B. WicUes, and carnages 
may lie orUertd by telephone to him. 
AMtlroHs 

B. GANITETT, SHARON. 

I*. S.— Te.'inis from my farm furnished for 
moving furniture, or any kind of .Tobblnjc, Kx- 
CHVMllnK or TciiminK- 



O.E.HOWAED, So. Sharon, 

p. O. ADDRESS, EAST FOXBOIU). 

FIRE WOOD PREPARED 

For stove or fireplace. Delivered prompt- 
ly in any quantity desired. 

FRED A, WHITE, 

Moose Hill Milk. 

Shop over Blue Store. Maple Ave., Sliaron. 

LONG BROTHEES, 

Sharon, keep in stock EVERY ARTICLE 
USUALLY KEPT IN A COUNTRY 
STORE. Permanent Residents, Cottagers 
and Summer Residents snpplied with 
goods eqnal in quality to any in Boston. 
A member of the firm will call for orders 
and deliver goods promptly. 

ATLA SPRUNG WATER, 

From Atla Springs, Sharon. 

Boston Office, . 93 :^i<h SI. 

H. F. LEONARD, SHARON, 
COAL 



63 



- MARKET - 

W. W. BROOKS, 

MAKES J» SPECL^LTY OF 

mm SnfflmBr Resiflents, 
Cottaprs, anfl all otters, 

MEATS, POULTRY, 
GAME, VEGETABLES, 
CANNED GOODS, 



II I I L_ I 



r^::R. 



and all ojoods usually kept in a Avell 
stocked market. 

W. W. BROOKS, - Sharon. 

Orders by telephone may be left with 

W. B. WiCKES. 



54 



HfHAT DO YOU WANT ? 



Do you want a farm to get a living on? 

Do you "want a farm for a plaything? 

Do you want a cranberry meadow? 

Do you want a poultry yard? 

Do you want a wood lot? 

Do you want a lot of vacant land? 

Do you want a house for a home? 

Do you want a house to let, as an invest- 
ment? 

Do you want to hire a house? 

Do you want to sell a house or let one? 

Do you want to sell a farm or some land? 

Do you want a boarding place? 

Do you want to take boarders? 

Do you want to sell any kind of business? 

Do you want to go into any kind of busi- 
ness or invest any money? 

In short, do yon wish to buy, sell or hire 
anything in Sharon or vicinity, or 
want to get a home in Sharon ? 

Apply to W. B. WICKES, Sharon. 
Telephone Connection. 

WHAT BO YOD WANT ? 



USE 

IVIARIGOLD >> 
<< OINTMENT! 

The Great Household Remedy. 

Remember this is warranted for Exter- 
nal Piles, Eczema, Salt Rheum, 
Scrofula, Nettle Rash, HI^^5S, 
AND Chilblains. 

IT SHOWS RESULTS AT ONCE. 

Also Old Sores, Cuts, Burns, Cold 

Sores, Ingrowing Nails, and 

Inflamed Joints. 



Wholesale Agents, Boston. 

Geo. C. Goodwin & (Jo., Hanover Street. 
Theodore Metcalf & (Jo., Tremont Street. 
Weeks & Potter, Washington Mreet. 
Carter, Carto.r & Kilhaui, Washington Street. 

Providence, R. I. 

William Blanding & Co., Weybosset Street. 
Geo. L. Claflin & Co., South Alain Street. 
Chambers & Calder, Exchange Place. 
Wm. D. Grace, Portsmouth, N.H., and all retail 
druggists. 
Send for our great four-jyage Massachusetts and 
Rhode Island circular and large samj)le box free. 
Address 

.ttARIGOLD OINTMENT CO. 

Sliaron, Norm Co., Mass. 

Cable address, "Marigold," 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 





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